Thread winding mechanism



ZUMM lMay' '19, 1936.

H s DRUM ET AL.

THREAD WINDING MECHANISM Filed Maly 51, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wm 19, 1936. H. s. DRUM ET A1.

THREAD WINDING MECHANISM Filed May 31, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .1 f ./J 2,. m2

Patented May 19, 1936 PATENT OFFICE THREAD WINDING MECHANISM Harry S. Drum, Abington, and William C. Dodson, Jenkintown, Pa., assignors to Smith, Drum and Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 31, 1934, Serial No. 728,204

4 Claims.

l nism, responsive to any one of a number of `different conditionaior stopping the winding operation. f Some of the objects of the present invention n are to provide an improved control for thread winding machines vor mechanisms; to provide a control wherein the delicate threads of rayon and the like can be successfully wound upon a spool withA a minimum of breakage; to provide a thread Mwinding control wherein provision is made for automatically dofing a partially wound spool in case of a tangle in the threadwhich causes it to cease feeding; to provide a `thread winding control wherein provision is made for automatically doiiing a partially wound spool in case of a break in the thread while feeding; to provide a thread winding control wherein provision is made for automatically doing a spool when thethread mass reaches a predetermined diameter; to provide a doing mechanism for thread winders wherein braking action on the thread is avoided during a dolng operation; to provide a thread winding control which can be adjusted for sensitiveness in Iacc'ordancewith varying thread weights; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l represents a front elevation (partly broken away) of a thread winding mechanism embodying one form of the present invention and with theparts in doifed position; Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same but with the parts in winding position; Fig. 3 represents an enlarged section on line 3 3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 represents an enlarged section on line 1I`4 of Fig. 1 but with the parts in thread winding position; and Fig. 5 represents a detail of the dofiing arm and associated parts.

Referring to the drawings one form of the present; invention is shown as assembledwith a winding mechanism which may be a single unit for winding one spool or one unit of a multiple spool machine. Where but a single unit is employed there will naturally be but a single control mechanism and where there are a plurality of units each will be independently controlled by a separatev control mechanism. In other words Athe present showing includes a complete'uni'tary control and it is to be understood that this is reproducedin each unit of a multiple machine. As here shown a shaft II) driven from a suitable source of power has a drive gear I I keyed thereon and meshing with a driven pinion I2 which is fast to counter shaft I3. Suitable brackets I4 project from the main frame I 5 of the machine to provide bearings for the aforesaid shaft I3. A driven drum I3 is keyed to the counter shaft I3 for rotating the spool I'I by friotional contact with the thread mass being wound thereon. The length of the drum I 6 is conveniently less than the distance between the heads I8 of a spool in order that the spool body can Contact the periphery of the drum.

For supporting a spool Il two coaxially mounted center pins 20 and 2| are provided to respectively enter the axis holes of the spool heads I8. The pin 20 is journalled in the head 22 of an arm 23 having an integral hub 24 pinned to a control rock spindle 25. The pin 2l is journalled in a head 26 of an arm 2l having an integral hub 28 pinned to the aforesaid rock spindle 25. The head 26, in the present instance, is in the form of a sleeve which receives a follower 30 and coacting coil spring 3|, the arrangement being such that the pin ZI is held outwardly pressed and thus clamps a spool in winding position. With the spool mounted upon the centers Z and 2| it can be swung about the spindle 25 as an axis to take a winding position (as indicated in Fig. 2) or a dofling position (as indicated inFig. l). As the thread mass increases in diameter, while winding, the spool arms 23 and 21 are gradually rocked for- Ward towards doing position as will be apparent.

For the purpose of removing a spool from contact with the driving drum I6 so that automatic dofling takes place, a doiling arm 32 is pivotally mounted upon the spindle 25 so that it has a radial swing to cause its head 33 to engage the sleeve head 26. Movement is transmitted to the arm 32 by a coil spring 33 which is stretched between the end 35 of the arm 32 and a fixed part, such as the frame I5. The action of the spring 34 is to throw the doiiing arm 32 to a position where the spool is entirely removed from contact with the driving drum Iii.

In order to render the dofling arm 32 ineffective during normal spool winding operation, a pin 36 is provided which projects laterally from one side of the arm 32 and at such a location that when the arm 32 is swung back out of sleeve engaging position this pin 36 will be held by a hook latch 3l. This hook 3l is formed on the free end of an elongated iinger 33 xed to a horizontally disposed rock rod il! which extends parallel to the axis of the spool and is journalled in the brackets I4. Thus by rocking the rod 40 in the right direction the finger 3B will be lifted to remove the hook latch 3l from the pin 36 so that the spring 34 can cause the dofng arm 32 to function.

For causing the rod 4i) to rock when the spool has been wound or the thread mass has reached a predetermined diameter, the spool supporting arm 23 is provided with a pin 4! which projects laterally therefrom to travel in an arcuate path which intercepts a finger 42 carriedY by the rod 4U. Thus when the thread mass reaches the desired size the travel of the pin 4I brings it v under the finger 42 to thereby rock the rod 4D and release the latch 37 whereby the'spool is automatically doffed and winding ceases.

For causing the rod 49 to rock when the thread ceases to feed or the threadbreaks, a cam 43 having two lifting toes 44 and 45 is attached to or formed integral with a control sleeve 46 which is mounted upon and freely rotatable on the rock spindle 25. An extension 41 projects radially from the sleeve 46 and forms a socket to receive and support a wire or other elongated member 43 which terminates in a thread guide 50. The cam toe 44 operates to lift the finger 42 when the thread breaks, and to cause this operation a spring 5| is coiled about the spindle 25 and has one end located below'and against the extension 4l and its other end secured to a knurled collar 52, also upon the spindle 25. By turning the collar 52 the desired tension can be placed upon the spring 5I after which the collar 52 is fixed in position by a set screw 53 engaging the spindle 25. Thus the spring tension tends to elevate the thread guide but normally the latter is held down by the taut thread travelling through the guide 50. It will be understood that the thread leaves the swift or reel 54 passes through the guide 5B to the guide 55 of the traverse bar 56 and thence to the spool l1. The traverse bar 55 is reciprocated by any well known mechanism which it is here deemed unnecessary to describe or illustrate because the laying on of the thread forms no part of the present invention. The cam toe 45 operates to lift the finger 42 when a tangle occurs such as to seriously retard or stop the thread feed, and it is the function of the toe 45 to bring about the removal of the spool from its driving means before such a strain is placed upon the thread as will cause breakage.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a complete unitary winding mechanism has been devised which can be automatically stopped through the action of a novel control responsive to certain conditions. This control primarily is vested in the latch 31 which when released renders an automatic dofling device effective to cause the winding operation to cease immediately.

In the case of the thread mass reaching a predetermined diameter the swinging movement of the spool arms caused by the thread build-up Will bring the travelling pin 4! against the finger 42 so that its continued travel will rock the rod 4l! to thereby lift the latch 3l from the doffer arm pin 36. As soon as the pin 36 is free the pull of the spring 34 turns the arm 32 in a direction to engage an associated part of the spool support to thereby move the spool out of contact with the drum I6. Winding then ceases.

In the case of the thread breaking its tension on the guide member 48 is relieved so that the sleeve 46 is rotated by the torque transmitted by spring 5l and causes the cam toe 44 to` swing the finger 42 so that the rod 40 is rocked in the direction necessary to release the latch 3l. With this latch released the automatic doing takes place as heretofore explained.

In the case of a thread tangle the increased tension caused thereby upon the thread will swing the guide member 48 against the tension of the spring 5I to thus bring the cam toe 45 into position to swing the finger 42 whereby the rod 4t is rocked to release the latch 3l. Again automatic doiiing takes place as heretofore explained.

For limiting the outward swing of the spool Vi under a dofling action the brackets I4 are respectively provided with stops 5l and 53, arranged in coaxial relation, the former (5T) being in the path of a lug 55 projecting from the hub 24, and the latter (58) being in the path of the end 35 of the dolng arm 32. Therefore a doiiing action brings the spool to rest in dofng position as determined by the position of the stops 5l and 58.

In order to maintain a spool Il rmly against the driving drum I6, the heads 22 and 26 are preferably respectively formed with weights 6| and 62 since these act to steady the spool while being wound and assist in a uniform wind at constant speed.

The dofiing arm 12 is preferably of a length sufficient to bring its free end to a convenient accessible position where it terminates in a thumb-plate 63 which permits finger pressure to easily reset the arm 32 after a doing action.

It will now be apparent that a complete unitary dofling mechanism has been devised which acts under a control subject to thread breakage, abnormal thread tension, and a full wound spool. Also it should be noted that dofling action takes place following any one of the aforesaid three conditions and such action is accomplished Without subjecting the delicate thread to the action of a brake or like device contacting therewith. In other words the objectionable brake action herefore. present in some prior structures is entirely eliminated by the novel structure of the present invention.

While only a single form is shown in which this invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction, but might be applied to various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:-

1. In a thread winding mechanism a pair of arms for rotatably mounting a spool, a device for transmitting motion to said spool, means for pivoting said arms to position said spool in operative association with said device, a pivotally mounted do'ing arm for removing said spool from association with said device, means including a spring for throwing said dofng arm to doiiing position, latch means for rendering said spring means ineffective, a rock rod arranged to control Vsaid latch means, and a control means for releasing said latch means, said control means including a cam operating in one direction to rock said rod in response to failure of said thread to feed and in another direction in response to the breaking of a thread whereby said dofling arm is actuated in response to both abnormal thread conditions.

2. In a thread winding mechanism a pair of arms for rotatably mounting a spool, a device for transmitting motion to said spool, means for pivoting said arms to position said spool in operative association with said device, a pivotally mounted dofling arm for removing said spool from association with said device, means including a springfor throwing said dofng arm to doing position, latch means for rendering said spring means ineffective, a rock rod arranged to control said latch means, a control means for releasing said latch means, said control means including a cam operating in one direction to rock said rod in response to failure of said thread to feed and in another direction in response to the breaking of a thread whereby said dong arm is actuated in response to both abnormal thread conditions, and means controlled by the movement of said spool arms for rocking said rod whereby said latch is released to cause a doling operation when the size of the thread mass reaches a predetermined diameter.

3. In a thread winding mechanism, the combination of a sleeve, means for mounting said sleeve for turning movement, a thread guide attached to said sleeve, a pair of arms for rotatably mounting a spool, a device for transmitting motion to said spool, a spring actuated doiiing arm for removing said spool fromA operative association with said device, a latch means for rendering said doffng arm ineffective, means including a rock rod for releasing said latch means, and means actuated by the turning movement of said sleeve a predetermined distance in either direction for operating said rod to release said latch means.

4. In a thread Winding mechanism, the combination of a sleeve, means for mounting said sleeve for turning movement, a thread guide attached to said sleeve, a pair of arms for rotatably mounting a spool, a device for transmitting motion to said spool, a spring actuated dofng arm for removing said spool from operative association Withsaid device, a latch means for rendering said dofng arm ineffective, means including a rock rod for releasing said latch means, means actuated by the turning movement of said sleeve a predetermined distance in either direction for operating said rod to release said latch means, and a torsion spring for turning said sleeve when said thread guide is released from the thread.

HARRY S. DRUM. WILLIAM C. DODSON. 

